Syracuse, NY - A 19-year-old man was shot in the groin tonight while trick or treating with at least two younger children at about 9 p.m. in the city’s Strathmore neighborhood, city police said.

The shooting occurred at Stolp and Roberts avenues by Bellevue School.

The trick or treaters had exchanged words with strangers in a silver-colored sedan earlier in the evening. Later, someone opened fire from the sedan, which witnesses said had a bag covering a broken rear window.

Police closed off one block of Stolp Avenue while they investigated the incident.

A 15-year-old shot in the back was taken to Upstate University Hospital in critical condition. He is undergoing emergency surgery tonight, Connellan said. Two 14-year-olds were taken to the same hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening. One was shot in the kidney area and the other in the buttocks.

Police did not identify the teens.

Anyone with information about either shooting may contact police at 442-5222.